Loading and packaging apparatus



Sept. 19, 1967 A. BAMBRA ETAL 3,342,036

LOADING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet ldw/vzegd Sept. 19, 1967 A. BAMBRA ETAL LOADING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS'7 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 3, 1965 F I I I 1| Sept. 19, 1%?

A. BAMBRA ETAL LOADING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed'May 5, 1963 MW Q K5; km m .1 j .m %&w x3 Q% QM W MNN N%N km E? NE 5:? mI T. bur um p 19, 1967 A. BAMBRA ETAL 3,342,016

LOADING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 zwywW p 19%? A. BAMBRA ETAL 3,342,016

LOADING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I "1mm M y-w l/\ i p 1967 A. BAMBRA ETAL 3,342,016

LOADING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Mmesre tates The present invention relates to apparatus for packagingarticles, particularly those types which are subject to damage inshipment or handling, such as tiles, in cartons or containers forshipment.

In the packaging of fragile articles, and in this respect tiles formedfrom mineral-fibrous frangible or similar products which are to be usedparticularly for the installation of sound-treated ceiling structureswill be considered as illustrative, it is important that the packagingbe such that the tiles are very tightly and closely packed and heldwithin the shipping carton. If any movement of the articles should bepermitted following packaging, the mere loose packing permits one tileto rub against the tile adjacent to it. This permits also the tile edgesto move into and away from contact with the wall of the shipping carton.The tiles being particularly fragile and frangible products, thismovement subjects them to breakage and loss if any substantial shiftingis permitted within the packaging cartons. Even if tiles are packagedaccording to very rigid standards by manual operation, it has been foundthat the forcing of the tiles into the containers often results indamage ever prior to shipment. This damage comes about both fromcareless operators and by reason of the fact that to obtain a tight fitwithin the shipping container it is often necssary to exert such asubstantial effort and pressure on the tile that a great tendency tobreak is present. This force applied in packaging (unless used underextremely careful planning) may be suficient either to bend or to breakthe tiles completely or to cause damage at their corners. If this occursin loading, it is apparent that substantial time loss will be involvedto remove a tight-fitting tile from a partially loaded carton and toreplace it.

One of the primary objectives of this invention is to provide packagingand loading mechanisms for feeding stacked tile components from astacking position into shipping cartons by purely automatic operations.At the stacking position, the tiles are preferably stacked manually bycarefully placing a plurality of tile elements within a hopper ortrough, usually formed as a part of a transporter device, in suchfashion that the tiles rest against each other only by the force ofgravity and the weight of the tile stack. Alignment of the tilesrelative to each other is provided only by bringing them in thepositioning and stacking operation into abutment with an appropriateguiding and aligning surface. The tiles are transported to the stackingstation in any desired fashion. This is usually provided by means of aconveyor belt arranged to convey the tile from a forming and shapingunit, which forms no part of the present invention, to the stackingstation.

At the stacking station the tiles are customarily stacked in a pair ofcompanion troughs or hoppers which are supported upon an arbor of asuitable transporting device suitably indexed to move the stacked tilesas a group to a loading station. The hoppers or troughs for holding thetiles are upon on two sides. The remaining two sides meet atapproximately right angles. A suitable wrapping strip is placed alongone surface of the stacking trough prior to stacking and, upon loadingthe tiles into the trough, the tiles rest edge-on upon the strip.Adjacent tile stacks are separated from each other by a manuallypositioned divider strip and a spreader blade which serves as analigning member for the adjacent stacks. The divider guide or separatorblade, which forms the aligning member for the 3,342,l Patented Sept.19, 1%6? tile stacks, is held between the adjacent stacks only duringthe stacking operation. It is removed prior to the transfer of thestacked tiles to the loading station at which they are packed intocartons or containers for shipment.

The arbor and transporter mechanism provides for shifting the stackedtiles from the stacking station position to the loading station atsuitable indexed times. When the tile stacks are shifted from thestacking to the loading station, they are then wrapped over theirexposed edges with a protective wrapping sheet. Following this, they areforced inwardly of a receiving carton or container as a group. Normally,the container adapted to receive and hold the tiles is of across-sectional size similar to that of the stacks of tile to be loaded.It is very slightly smaller than the combined dimensions of the tilestacks so that a tight fit is insured.

The tile stacks are loaded into the container or carton by pressureexerted by a ram. They are then forced into the carton under pressureexerted uniformly over the entire tile area. At the loading or packingstation the ram forces the tile stacks as a group across the troughs(the divider guide or separator blade having been removed at thestacking location prior to the time the arbor moves to the cartonloading position). As the stacks are moved into the container, they tendto compress very slightly the edge wrapping sheet placed thereabout andat the same time wedge the tile group and the wrapping sheet within thecarton. The loading operation thus stretches very slightly the receivingcarton so that, with assembly of the stacks into the carton, movement ofthe tiles relative to each other and to the carton is completelyprecluded.

Following the loading of the tile stacks into the cartons, the cartonsare transferred by suitable mechanism through a carton closing andfastening station. They are then loaded upon a distributing conveyor ortransferred to storage or utilization areas.

The operational sequence of the apparatus herein to be described is suchthat the tiles are stacked, transferred and transported from thestacking position to a loading position, tightly loaded at the loadingposition into cartons, transferred following loading to a carton closingoperation, and finally automatically removed from the stacking, loadingand packaging regions of the controlled apparatus. The operation of themachine herein to be set forth is preferably interlocked in such fashionthat the timing and advance of the stacked tiles from one operationalstep to another is so controlled that it may or may not be uniform,depending upon any one of the operational steps of the unit.

The transporter device is adapted for rotary movement. It has aplurality of generally V-shaped article re ceiving troughs. All troughsare located a like radial distance from the center of rotation of thetransporter device so that all rotate about a common axis. The number oftroughs on the device may be selected at will but each must be spaced anequal arcuate distance from the trough next adjacent. The spacing isthus 360/'n, where n is the number of troughs selected for thetransporter device.

The described apparatus provides a greatly speeded-uploading operation;it reduces the manpower requirements for loading and particularlyprovides for packing to a degree of tightness not readily obtainableunder manually controlled conditions.

The operation is preferably controlled electrically and interlocked aswill later be described.

Various mechanisms may be employed to practice the invention. Forpurposes of readily understanding the nature of the device, one formthereof which has proved satisfactory in which two troughs spaced 180apart and which is illustrative of the principle involved will herein bedescribed. In this form reference may now be made to the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a generally diagrammatic plan view of the packaging mechanismand show particularly the flow and movement paths of the variouscomponents of which the invention is comprised;

FIG. 2 is also a plan view but showing in more detail the variouscomponents of the operating arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a portion of the loading apparatus ofFIG. 2 looking generally from the bottom to the top of the sheet as FIG.2 is placed on the sheet of drawing and FIG. 3 shows in particular thedivider mechanism to separate groupings of stacked components during theloading operation, the divider being shown in its lowered position andin phantom representation in its raised position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2 to showparticularly the trasporter or carrier rotating mechanisms and the driveadapted to maintain the goods-holding hoppers in goods-retainingposition;

FIG. 5 is a showing of the goods transfer table after being rotatedthrough 90;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 looking inthe direction of the arrows to show the goods transfer mechanismmovement;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 3 to show thedrive mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a view of the glue rod for gluing cartons;

FIG. 9 is a chematic circuit diagram of the electrical circuit andrelays serving to control the operation and movement of the variousmechanisms as illustrated by FIG. 2 operated under the influence of thecontrol buttons there shown;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows to show particularly the loaded componentsheld in the loading cradle prior to movement to an unloading position;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 2 and lookingin the direction of the arrows to show the loaded components transferredfrom the loading cradle to the interior of the carton;

FIG. 12 represents the changed position of the loaded carton from thecradle to the turntable;

FIGS. 13 through 16 represent in schematic form successive stages in theloading operation, FIG. 13 showing the stacked components immediatelyprior to wrapping, FIG. 14 showing the wrapped components adapted to bepositioned within the receiving carton, FIG. 15 showing the componentsloaded within the carton and the carton flaps ready for final closureand in the gluing process, and FIG. 16 showing the finally loaded cartonin a position to be moved along a conveyor to a utilization point;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the liner adapted to be wrappedabout the stacked components;

FIG. 18 shows in schematic fashion the forcing or loading operationwherein the stacked components, after having been wrapped with the linerof FIG. 17, are forced within the carton as shown by FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 shows a typical component adapted to be loaded into the carton;and

FIG. 20 shows a stack of material for loading into the carton.

Reference may now be made to the accompanying drawings, as abovedesignated, for a further understanding of the nature and working of amachine of the type above outlined.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the tiles 11 (or any otherobject adapted for stacking as here explained), after having beensuitably manufactured, are usually supplied to a loading platform 13 byway of a conveyor belt 15 arranged to move in any desired fashion, as inthe direction shown by the arrow. The tiles are collected on the loadingplatform where they are manually transferred into one of a pair of 90V-shaped troughs or hoppers 17 whose sides are positioned atapproximately 45 to the horizontal, which would be the support base orfloor for the machine. The troughs are supported in arbor or framemembers 43 and 44, later to be described, of the transporter mechanism.

Immediately prior to the transfer of tiles into an empty trough orhopper 17, a wrapper 19 is manually positioned to rest on one wall 21 ofthe V-shaped trough or hopper. The tiles are then loaded in the troughin such fashion that one edge surface is rested against the wrapper andthe flat surface 24 of the tile rests upon the second trough wall 25.The tiles are stacked in two columns, each having one outer edge 26inside the edge 27 of the trough and preferably against opposite sidesof a divider blade 29 so that it is possible vertically to stack thetiles with a minimum of effort and judgment on the part of the operator.

The tiles (illustratively) may be about nine to ten inches square andhave about a half-inch thickness. For this size it is usually mosteconomical to stack a group and to ship them with divider sheets betweenadjacent columns and the number of columns best suited to the packagingused. For this purpose, and in order that the tile stacks may beseparated from each other prior to the final placement into the cartons,the machine operator normally places a separator sheet 28 on one side ofthe blade 29 so that it is between adjacent tile stacks in the finalpackaging. The sheet 28 is placed and held in the V-shaped loadingtrough or hopper 17 by positioning it against one surface of a removableseparating or dividing blade 29 (see particularly FIGS. 2 and 3) againstwhich the tiles are stacked.

As will be explained particularly in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, theseparator blade 29 is removable prior to shifting the position of thetrough or hopper 17 on its arbor and transporting device from thestacking position to a carton-loading position. Suffice it at the momentto state the the tiles are stacked, in the preferred embodiment of theinvention, in two adjacent stackings until the uppermost tile of eachstack reaches a limiting position within the trough, which is determinedby the stop member 30 at the outer end of the wall 21 (see FIG. 10).

The troughs or hoppers 17 are supported upon shafts 31 which extendthrough the side members 43 and 44 to form also the closure elements ofthe arbor or transporter mechanism. Each trough or hopper is locked inany appropriate fashion to the shaft in such position that the troughwalls are always maintained at an angle of 45 to the plane of supportfor the machine as a whole (see FIG. 10, for instance). Such supportplane 32 is usually the floor of the area on which the machine ismounted. The mechanism for maintaining this relationship during theturning of the arbor or transporter mechanism will later be described.Suffice it for the moment to state that the relationship is somaintained that the tiles are held in a fashion to preclude theirfalling out.

There is a second trough member 33 adjacent to each tile-stackingtrough. The second trough'members 33 play no part in the initialtile-stacking operation. Their use is to form a trough into which thecarton or container to be loaded is positioned to receive the tiles atthe packing or loading station. The second trough members 33 also have aforward wall or surface edge 35 which is maintained in coplanarrelationship to the wall 21 of each trough 17. The second side of eachtrough 33 is formed by an arm or frame member 37 which is appropriatelyheld to maintain a 90 relationship with the forward wall 35. Each secondtrough 33 also has a second side member or arm 38 which is heldgenerally adjacent to the trough 17.

Roller members 40 are held between the arms 37 and 38 and so mounted asto be capable of turning, with the arms constituting bearing members forreduced size ends or shafts 41 to support the rollers. The support andmounting of the second troughs 33 will be discussed more particularly inconnection with the description of the apparatus which will be set outin the discussion of FIGS. 3 and 5 in particular and, therefore, neednot be mentioned in further detail at this point. Sui-lice it to say atthis point, however, that the trough sections 33 also are normally heldin a position with their sides 45 to the vertical, but they are so heldas to be capable of being turned about the supporting shaft to unloadfilled cartons or containers to permit a transfer of such cartons orcontainers from the loading apparatus to suitable conveying mechanism.

The ends of the support shafts 31, which carry the troughs 17 and 33,are held in the support frame or arbor members 43 and 44. The arbor thusconstitutes the bearing surfaces for the trough supports. The frameformed by the members 43 and 44 as its side members is formed into agenerally rectangular shape of the transporter mechanism by way of thesupported shafts 31 on which the troughs are held. A hollow drive shaft45 extends through the central portion of the transporter frame. Theshaft terminates in bearings carried upon outer frame side members 46and 47 which connect in any desired fashion with end members 48 and 49.The shaft 45 thus provides a common axis about which the arbor and itssupported troughs rotate.

The frame drive will be discussed more particularly in FIG. 2, butsuffice it for the moment to state that in the manner in which FIG. 1 isviewed on the sheet the shaft 45 can be assumed to be driven to rotatein a counterclockwise direction. This drive direction provides that thetransporter means holdin the troughs or hopper members 17 turns to swingthe loaded troughs beneath the frame from the tile stacking or loadingposition, generally designated A, at which the tiles 11 are placed inthe troughs or hoppers to a position where these loaded troughs orhoppers are then moved upwardly to the tile unloading and carton packingposition, generally designated B. The movement is assisted in itsinitial state by the effect of gravity and tends to speed the articletransfer.

In connection with the generalized description made in FIG. 1, detailsof the control mechanism are not set forth at this point, but suffice itto say here that the shaft rotation of the transporter frame to carrythe loaded hoppers or troughs to an unloading position operates in sucha fashion that the transfer motion as initiated is rather slow and thenaccelerated, after which more or less rapid deceleration occurs as thegoods are transferred to the unloading position. Various methods andapparatus for achieving this type of motion are known, but one suitableform of device is that which is known as the Ferguson transmissiondrive, although it is to be understood that other types of drives, suchas Geneva movements, cams or the like, may be used with facility.

In the transfer operation of the loaded tiles from the loading orstacking station to the unloading station consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3will set out in further detail the manner in which the separating blade29 is removed from the trough or hopper prior to movement thereof intothe unloading position. For the purpose of the generalized descriptionthis will not here be discussed but will be referred to at a laterpoint.

When the hopper or trough is removed from the loading position to theunloading position with a 180 turn of the supporting cradle or frameconstituting the transporter means which turns with the hollow shaft 45,the carefully stacked tiles are ready for unloading and packaging into asuitable container 50. At the time a loaded hopper or trough is movedfrom the stacking position to an unloading position, an emptied hopperor trough is simultaneously moved into a stacking position. In this waystacking at one station and unloading at a second station can be carriedon concurrently.

When a loaded transporter device reaches the unloading station B, acarton or container 50 which is to contain the tiles for shipment isplaced in the second trough or hopper section 33 by the machineoperator. The container is supported with its end flaps 51 and 52 openedso that the flaps hang over the spacing between the troughs 33 and 17.The container is positioned to rest in such location that two adjacentpanels are held in planes substantially 45 to the plane of the base lineof the machine and in such a position that the diagonal between itslowermost and .uppermost corners extends in a path at substantiallyright angles to the base of the machine. This, it will be seen,corresponds to the position in which tiles 11 are stacked in theV-shaped troughs or hoppers 17 at the loading station.

The machine operator, who is located at the unloading position B, has,as a part of his duties, that of wrapping the wrapper 19 about the endwalls 53, 54 and 55 which constitute the tile edges which have been freeof the wrapper at the loading position. It will be borne in mind that atthe loading position the tiles were stacked so that one edge was restedupon the wrapper 19.

The portion of the tile which had not been originally wrapped iscarefully wrapped at the unloading station B because the edges of thetile are the most sensitive to breakage. The original state at which thetiles arrive at the unloading station is indicated by FIG. 13. Therighthand portion of FIG. 14 indicates the positioning of the Wrapperabout the tiles just prior to loading into the carton on conveyor 50 bythe action of the ram 57.

With thearrival of the tiles and the trough or hopper 17 at theunloading station E, the machine operator controls the operation of theloading ram 57 to force the tiles laterally across the trough and intothe container. The end of the ram is of a generally plate-like form. Ithas a shape similar to and approximating that of the tile 11, althoughvery slightly larger. The ram plate 57 is held on the outer end of apiston rod 58 which is fitted within a cylinder 59. When the controllingoperator causes fluid (illustratively air) under pressure to enter intothe cylinder 59 by way of the inlet 60, the piston (not shown) withinthe cylinder is moved forward (looking at FIG. 1). Piston movementforces the flat plate end 57 of the ram to come into abutment with thenow-wrapped tiles in the trough or hopper 17 (see also FIG. 14). Withcontinued piston and ram movement the group of tiles is transferred by apushing or sliding movement from the trough or hopper 17 into theadjacently positioned carton 0: container 50.

The carton or container 50, when ready to receive tiles, is rested andpositioned adjacent to the end wall 37 of the second trough 33 so as toprovide a firm bearing rest for the carton and so position the cartonthat movement of the ram plate causes a transfer of the tiles and forcesthem into the carton or container.

At this point it may be desirable to set out that, as shown by FIG. 18,the wrapped tiles with the wrapping 19 thereabout are very slightlylarger than the opening into the container. Under the circumstances,movement of the group of tiles into the container 50 under the force ofthe ram plate 57 slightly stretches or compresses the container wall asthe tiles are guided past the end flaps 52 within the container.Simultaneously, the wrapping 19 is very slightly compressed. The sizedifference between the container cross-section and the tile and wrappingis not sufficiently different to preclude the entry of the tiles intothe container or carton, but it is sufiicient that the tiles, whenforced within the container, are held in an extremely tight position.

After the container has been loaded with the tiles the operator at theunloading station grasps the outer end 61 of the frame arm 37 to swingor turn the section of the trough or hopper in which the carton wasloaded through approximately a 45 angle (clockwise, looking at FIG. 11).The movement is provided against the force of a tension spring 62 whichhas one end held in fixed position in a bracket 63 on the end of theshaft 31. The other spring end is in a support 64 to the second troughor hopper 33. When so turned (see FIG. 12) the side member 37 of thetrough or hopper 33 and its rollers 40 are carried to substantially ahorizontal position.

Transfer of the loaded carton 50 from the rollers 40 of the troughmember 37 to the turntable 65 after the frame arm 37 is turned about theshaft 31 (in a direction clockwise to the shaft, looking at FIG. 3) intoa position such that the frame 37 and its rollers 40 are broughtsubstantially adjacent to the turntable frame 65 is readilyaccomplished. The carton 50, which has previ-- ously been contained inthe frame section 37, at this point is rolled over rollers 40 (bridgingthe slight gap, as shown by FIG. 3, between the frame 37 and theturntable 65) and is rolled upon the rollers 67 of the turntable untilthe carton comes into abutment with a suitably positioned stop 68 on theturntable frame.

As can be seen particularly from FIG. 3, the turntable frame 65 issupported on a trunnion bearing 69 which is. held in the upper portionof a frame support 71. The frame support consists of a plurality ofgenerally flat plate members which are secured at their ends to a pairof elongated angle bracket members 72 and 73. The upper ends of theangle bracket members are turned inwardly and the cross members 71 ofthe frame are secured thereto in any desired fashion. The lower end ofthe angle bracket members is turned in the opposite direction, as isparticularly apparent from the showing of FIG. 3, for reasons which willlater be explained. The cross members 71 at the ends of the anglebracket members are appropriately spaced and held so as to support axles76 and 77 internally of the bracket members.

Collars 81 are secured and adapted to provide a bearing in which theaxles 76 may turn. The axles extend. outwardly beyond the bearings (notshown) provided in the angle brackets with spacing determined by thecollars 81. Rollers or wheels 83 are mounted at the outer ends of theshafts 76. The turntable member as a whole is adapted to be rolled backand forth in the directions.

shown by the arrows particularly on FIG. 2. The central strip 71 isconnected to approximately a midpoint of the extended angle brackets 72and 73 and supports the trunnion bearing for the turntable.

There is appropriately supported on the base member 85 of the machine asa whole a plurality of brackets 88 which have rail members 89 securedthereto. The rollers supporting the frame and turntable are rested uponthe rails and the turntable carriage is adapted to be moved along thetracks or rails in controlled fashion. The rollers 83 are flanged, withthe flange on the inner side. The outwardly turned portions of thebrackets 72 and '73, as can be seen, extend more or less to wrap underthe lower portion of the rails 89. While there is usually no contactbetween the lower rail section and the outwardly turned bracket portion,nonetheless the extension precludes the possibility of tilting theturntable above its central support trunnion when loads are applied.

Following load transfer, the turntable and the supported carton areturned about the trunnion bearing 69 from the position generallyrepresented by FIGS. 1 and 3 to that shown by FIG. 2. In the latterposition the carton or container on the turntable could be rolled in apath which is at 90 to the transfer path.

As can be seen more particularly from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the framesupport member 71 attaches to a piston rod 91 which terminates at apiston (not shown) contained within the cylinder 93 into which fluid isadapted to be supplied in two directions by tubes 175 and 175'. Whenfluid is supplied by inlet 175 the turntable is pulled from the positionshown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 into a position in which it and thecarton or container 50 carried thereby is moved on the rails 89 to aposition relative to the ram 95, can be moved off the turntable and ontoan output conveyor conventionally represented at 97, as will later beexplained.

At this point the movement of the transporter mechanism from a loadingposition at region A to an unloading position at region B has generallybeen set forth. Also, mention has been made of the control exerted bythe ram 57 to push the tiles from the V-shaped troughs 17 into thecarton or container 50. Mention has also been briefly made of thetransfer process whereby the carton or container is moved andtransferred from the rollers 40, against which it rests at the time ofloading to the turntable and the control effected by a rotation of theturntable to place the carton in a position for movement and transfer toan output conveyor.

Reference may now be made more particularly to the transporter mechanismand the drive by which the transporter mechanism moves loaded tiles froma loading position to another position from which they are packaged.

Making reference particularly now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the drive forcontrolling the movement of the transporter unit provided by the cradleframes 43 and 44 is derived from a source of any desired typeconventionally represented at 101. As above mentioned, in one particularform of the device, a well-known type of Ferguson drive may beeffectively utilized. Suitable motor drives can be used withsubstantially equal facility. In this operation, the motor whichcontrols the Ferguson drive is usually continuously driven as long asthe machine is in operation. The motor drives the Ferguson transmissionthrough a suitable clutch which is energized as the machine cycles. Attimes of de-energization of the clutch (as can be determined from thedescription of FIG. 9) the brake mechanism suitably of known character,prevents drive. With clutch energization, the brake is released. It isreapplied upon clutch de-energization.

Alternatively, motors driving through appropriate gearings, clutches orcam control devices may also be used.

As conventionally represented in the drawings and as herein described,the particular drive shown may consist of a motor 111 driving through asuitable clutch (not shown) and drive belt or chain 112 into a shaft 113which connects through a gear box 114 leading into the drive unit 101 ofthe aforementioned type. The showing here is purely conventional andother forms of drive mechanism may be substituted if desired, as long asthe functioning is within the teachings herein outlined. The drivingform illustrated is one which has been found suitable and which canreadily be controlled by interlock and indexing switch control devices116 and 117 later to be discussed.

In the control of the movement of the arbor carrying the hoppers ortroughs (considering, illustratively, an arrangement whereby the arborcarries two sets of troughs or hoppers spaced 180 from each other) theindexing of the machine to the two opposite 180 positions is achieved byvirtue of the Ferguson transmission. As is known in the art, theFerguson transmission is essentially a cam-drive type of arrangement. Itis started into operation by the combined operation of the indexingbuttons or switches 116 and 117, and it is arranged to make onerevolution and then stop. The mechanism is restarted following theclosure of the switches or control buttons 116 and 117 in any desiredorder or simultaneously. The ratio of the sprockets and 107 in theoperation herein to be described is set at 2:1 so that with the start ofthe Ferguson drive the machine is caused to index one-half revolution,after which it stops. There is no need to provide a physical stop orabutment to hold the arbor in either of its rest positions.

The power source 101 is arranged to turn a shaft 103 upon which asprocket gear 105 is appropriately supported and keyed. A drive chain106 wraps around the driving sprocket 105 and a driven sprocket 107which is keyed to drive the hollow shaft 45 within which a central shaft109 is supported. The sprocket member is also secured to the sidemembers 43 and 44 of the transporter device by pins or the like 110 sothat with the sprocket tutrnciing the transporter mechanism is alsosimilarly roa e With drive being provided through the chain 106, it isapparent that drive from the motor 111 will cause the transportermechanism to rotate. Any rotation of the 9 transporter mechanism withoutan appropriate positioning of the V-shaped troughs would obviously besuch that the troughs, if upright in one position, would be upsidedownin a 180 position and the stacked articles would immediately bedischarged. For the purpose of holding the troughs always in the samerelative position so that the trough sides are maintained at all timesat approximately a 45 angle relative to the machine base or support (seeFIG. a suitable gearing is provided by the drive from the shaft 109within the hollow shaft 45. The shaft 109 terminates in a bearing 121supported on the side member 46.

Noting now particularly FIGS. 4 and 7 in conjunction with FIGS. 1, 2 and3, the shaft 109 terminates in a bearing 121 on the frame 46. In thisarrangement it becomes particularly clear from FIG. 7 that the sprocket107 is adapted to drive and turn the rotatable hollow shaft 45 while theshaft 109 extending therethrough is fixed and held in a fixed positionby the set screw 123 in the bearing 121 attached to the frame 46. Undercircumstances when the sprocket 107 rotates to turn the side members 43and 44 of the transporter mechanism, this turning occurs about andrelative to the fixed shaft 109, with the bearing members 124 and 125providing a support for the fixed shaft.

The support shafts 31 upon which the V-shaped cradles are carried andwhich extend through the side members 43 and 44 of the transportermechanism have a sprocket gear 129 keyed thereto at 133. Likewise,sprocket gears 135 and 136 are also appropriately keyed on the fixedshaft 109, as by the set screw 137. A drive chain 141 extends from thesprocket 129 around the inner sprocket 135. A similar drive chain 142extends around the sprocket 129 at the opposite end of the transporterframe about the outer sprocket 136.

With the V-shaped troughs held on support shafts 31 and secured theretoso as to turn with the support shaft, and the sprocket gears 129 alsobeing secured to the shafts 31, it is apparent that the sprocket 105which drives the sprocket 107 through the chain 106 operates to turn theouter hollow rotatable shaft 45 and therefore to rotate the transportermechanism. The sprocket gears 129 tend to orbit, as it were, around thesprocket gears 135 and 136, but with the shaft 109 being fixed andprecluding rotation the effect is to roll the drive chains 141 and 142about the sprockets 135 and 136. Consequently, the chains turn alsoabout the sprockets 129 so that the rotary motion of the transporterframe is compensated, insofar as the turning of the V-shaped supporttroughs is concerned, in such a fashion as to hold the troughs always inan upright position, thereby to preclude outward movement of thearticles (in this instance tiles) carried thereby. With the rotation ofthe transporter frame being in a counterclockwise direction (looking atFIGS. 3 and 4 for instance), it will be apparent that the V-shapedtroughs are appropriately turned to hold them in an erect position.

It was previously mentioned that the sections of the V-shaped troughmembers 17 were separated by a divider blade 29 which was movableinwardly and outwardly relative thereto. Reference to the control ofmovement of the divider blade may now be had by a further considerationof the showing of FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular. At each side of the frameand generally toward the unloading end thereof, a pair of uprightsupport members 151 (one shown in FIG. 3) extend upwardly and are tiedtogether by a cross beam 152 at their upper and outer ends. A rotatablearm 155 is pivoted to this cross beam 152 at 153.

'The separator blade 29 is adapted to slide in and out of the arm 155 asa track and to be retractable from the lower position (shown by FIG. 3)to the phantom position shown in the same figure.

One support point for the arm 155 is provided by its hinged connectingpoint 153 to the cross member 162. A second point of support is providedby the attachment of one end 156 of a cylinder 157 thereto, as at 158. Apiston rod member 160 is supported within the cylinder 157. The outerend 161 of the piston rod is pivotably secured to an overhanging bracket163 attached in any suitable manner to the cross member 152 and theframe carrying the uprights 151.

The separator blade 29 is secured at its inner edge 165 to one end of apiston rod 166 which is adapted to move in and out of a cylinder 167within which it terminates in a suitable piston (not shown). Themovement is guided by a guide rod 168 attached at one end to the bladeand extending through the guide bracket 189 secured to the arm 155.

Each of the cylinders 157 and 167 is of the fluid actuated variety andis provided with a connection to permit fluid ingress and egress at eachside of the piston carried therein. The arrangement is such that fluidentering into the cylinder 167 through the entrance port 171 will forcethe piston contained therein in a direction from left to right (lookingat FIG. 3) and force fluid outward through the outlet 172. This actionwithdraws the separator blade 29 from its position as a divider memberbetween the two stacks of tiles 11 placed within the V-shaped troughs17. At the time this withdrawal action is occurring fluid is also forcedwithin the entrance port connection 173' into the cylinder 157. Fluid isthen forced out through the outlet connection 174 of this cylinder sothat the cylinder 157 as a whole is being drawn over the piston rod 160by reason of the piston (not shown) within the cylinder 157 being forceddownwardly. This tends to raise the arm 155 about the point 158 as apivot and lift both the retracted blade 29 and its support arm away fromthe V- shaped troughs. The retraction of the blade moves it out of thepath of the. rotatable transporter mechanism, because it will beapparent that as the loaded V-shaped troughs 17 move from the loadingposition shown to the left of FIG. 3 to the unloading position shown tothe right of FIG. 3. The unloaded trough moves above the framework toreturn to the loading position at station A. Because of the arc of'carry, it is desirable that the arm carrying the divider blade be movedout of the way of the transporter mechanism as it rotates. It is alsodesirable that for the protection of workmen the blade should be bothretracted and lifted from the position it occupies in the loadedposition.

The rotation of the transporter frame through to shift the loadedtroughs beneath the framework to the unloaded position and tosimultaneously shift the unloaded troughs above the framework back tothe loading position should be coordinated with the shift operation sothat the operators at each of the loading and unloading positions shallalways coordinate the operational steps encountered.

This interlock and indexing is provided by control circuits of thecharacter shown and described in connection with FIG. 9 which will laterbe described. Suflice it for the moment to mentionthat the operator atthe loading station A, upon completing the loading of the V-shapedtrough 17, actuates the switch conventionally represented at 116. Theoperator at the unloading or packing station B at which the articles arepacked within the cartons or containers 50, upon completing the packingoperation and shifting the loaded carton or container onto the turntable65, releases his hold on the frame 61 on the spring biased section ofthe V-shaped troughs so that under the influence of the spring 62 theunloaded section is returned to registry with the section to be filledwith tile. This having been accomplished, the operator then actuates theswitch control mechanism conventionally represented at 117. With bothswitch control mechanisms 116 and 117 actuated, driving power isprovided again to rotate the transporter mechanism through 180.

It is immaterial which of the control switches 116 and 117 is firstactuated, for the interlock is such (note description of FIG. 9) thatonly combined actuation of the two devices will permit a shift androtation of the transporter device. The control provided with themovement of the transporter device also simultaneously actuates thevalve mechanisms in any desired fashion to provide fluid supply in theappropriate direction into the cylinders 157 and 167 which control theblade elevation and blade projection in the fashion described.

It has already been mentioned that when the tiles in the V-shapedtroughs reach the unloading position B they are to be slidably removedand forced into the carton or container. This operation and the controlof the position of the ram 57 by virtue of actuation of piston containedwithin the cylinder 59 is interlocked so that it can only take placeunder the control of an operator during a nonmoving period of thetransporter mechanism. This will become apparent from the description ofthe circuitry of FIG. 9 and further discussion thereof will not be madeat this point.

For transfer operations following a transfer of the cartons to theturntable, a drive control switch for carrying the table mechanismtoward the final output conveyor is provided by actuation of the switchcontrol mechanism conventionally represented at 173, thereby to actuateand initiate the operation of the turnable movement. Control of fluidinto the cylinder 92 by way of the inlet connection 175 causes thepiston to be moved downwardly (looking at FIG. 2) and thereby to movethe turntable mechanism.

As will be apparent from the showing of FIG. 15, the cartons into whichthe components have been loaded are still open at their ends followingthe transfer from the V-shaped troughs to the turntable. To close thecartons a gluing operation is provided concurrently with the movement ofthe shifted turntable along the tracks 89. The glue (or other adhesive)is sprayed by nozzles 181 positioned adjacent to the tracks and directedtoward the moving cartons. The duration of spray is controlled under themovement of the turntable mechanism.

In FIG. 8 the drawings show a control rod 183 adjacent to which afollower roller 1S4 linked to a. spray control cylinder switch member185 is adapted to be moved. As can be seen more particularly from FIG.8, the rod 183 is attached to the turntable support and is adapted tomove in and out of the housing or guide tube 187. The rod is capable ofbeing turned controllably and secured into different positions so thatvarious length timing slots 188 and 189 may be brought into engagingposition relative to the guide and follower roller 184. With the rodmoving in and out of the guide tube 187 at the time of movement of theturntable the follower 184 remains in one of the slots for differentperiods of time, depending upon the slot length. Under thecircumstances, control of a glue spraying operation is determined inaccordance with the carton size utilized. With the rod moving to theposition such that the guide roller 184 moves without one of the slots189, a control is effected to shut off the glue spray.

With spraying operations occurring, the glue or other adhesive issprayed from the nozzles or jets 181 onto the carton flaps 190 and 191(see FIGS. 5 and 15) and the flaps (not shown) at the opposite end. Asthe turntable moves and is brought over the rails 89 to a position inalignment with the ram 95, the operator manually controls the inlet offluid into the cylinder member 201 in which the support rod 202 of ram95 is held. Control is achieved by a switch mechanism conventionallyshown at 203 so that fluid is permitted to enter into the cylinder 201at the connection 205 and to be removed by way of the connection 206,thereby to move the piston (not shown) within cylinder 201 from left toright. This occurring, the carton is pushed from the turntable 65 towardthe conveyor 97. The pressure of the ram 95, which has a large surfacesubstantially corresponding to that of the end of the carton, forces theunsecured flaps to close. Similarly, forcing the carton from theturntable to the conveyor presses the heretofore unclosed flaps at theopposite end of the container against a carton or container previouslyloaded. Consequently, the flaps are pressed together and caused toadhere to each other to provide closure. With the transfer of the loadedcontainer to the conveyor 97, the operative steps between supply andfinal packaging have been completed.

In the control of the machine, as provided by the electrical circuitrydiagrammatically shown by FIG. 9, it may be well, prior to a descriptionof the various circuit components, to outline very briefly theoperational sequence and interlocks. During the tile-stacking operationat the loading position and the transfer of stacked tiles into cartonsat the unloading or packing station the motor 111 can be assumed to keeprunning. The braking mechanism of the Fergusion drive is normallyenergized and the clutch is de-energized so that the machine as a wholeis stopped. When machine cycling is desired, the operators at thestacking or loading station A and at the packing or unloading station IBdepress the indexing buttons 116 and 117 (thereby to close theelectrical drive-control circuit) in any desired order. At this time theoperation functions so that the divider blade 29 is immediatelyretracted and raised from the trough or hopper '17. At the same time thebrake mechanism (not shown) in the Ferguson drive is released and theclutch is energized to cause the arbor and transporter frame carryingthe troughs or hoppers to rotate through a 180 are due to the turning ofthe hollow shaft 45. At the completion of the 180 rotation the brake ofthe Fergusion drive is re-energized and the clutch is tie-energized orreleased to hold the machine in the lastestablished position.

Promptly with the stopping of the cradle movement the support for thedivider blade or plate 29 is lowered. At this time the divider blade 29is caused to move into the trough or hopper 17 to separate it into twosections. The repositioning of the divider blade readies the machine forthe stacking and loading of tiles against it as an aligning surface. Theloaders at station A then commence to load the troughs or hoppers andthe operator at the unloading station B places the carton or container50, which is to receive the tiles, into the trough section 33' (see FIG.11, for instance). At this time the operator at the unloading stationcloses a circuit to energize the carton loading ram 57 which movesforward to transfer the tiles from the troughs or hoppers 17, 21 intothe carton 50 (the start of this operation is diagrammed illustrativelyin FIG. 18). Reelase of the ram movement control button causes the ramto return to its starting position, as will be explained further in thecircuit operation.

At this point in the operation the operator rotates the carton-holdingtrough (usually manually) against the force of spring 62 in a clockwisedirection (looking at FIGS. ll and 12 of the drawing) to a position fromthat in which it was initially loaded (as in FIG. 11) to a position fortransfer to the turntable (as in FIG. 12). This movement also serves tocontrol the retraction of a compression ram which will later bedescribed and which will feed loaded cartons to an output conveyor andcompression table.

Following the transfer of the loaded cartons to the turntable 55 as inFIG. 12) the operator rotates the turntable through At this point anelectrical circuit may be closed by means of a switch 173. The switchstarts the turntable moving along the guide rails 89 to carry the cartonthrough the gluing cycle, already explained. With forward movement ofthe turntable toward a limit switch, which is actuated by the gluingrod, the spray of the spray guns 181 is controlled. After a selectedlength of spray, as determined by the position of the follower roller184 in the slots 188 or 189 of the glue rod 183, it is possible tocontrol the length of time of gluing spray. The turntable continues totravel past the glue spraying areas until it moves into the region ofthe compression table and output conveyor and the ram there located. Theoperator at the unloading and carton packing station closes a furtherram-control electrical circuit by control of the switch.

The compression ram 95 is then caused to move forward and to push thecarton in its loaded state off the turntable and onto the compressiontable or conveyor 97. This then presses the glued flaps into a closedposition for final sealing. With the completion of the compressionstroke, the compression ram activates a limit switch which controls anelectrical circuit to cause the turntable to return to its originalposition, after which it will be in a state to move further cartonsalong to the compression table and output conveyor.

The operation on the interlocks is such that the loadin ram 57 will notactivate while the transporter and arbor carrying the troughs or hoppersfrom a loading to an unloading position is cycling. Likewise, themachine will not cycle while the ram is moving. The turntable 65 cannotenter into a gluing operation unless the compression ram 95 iscompletely retracted. The compression ram will not activate unless theturntable is completely at one end or the other of its movement. Lastly,the machine will not cycle unless the divider blade 29 is both retractedand raised from the troughs or hoppers in which the tiles are stacked.

The foregoing is intended to illustrate the general nature of theinterlock and sequence of operation between all of the components heredescribed. The particular circuitry by which the foregoing operationsmay be achieved can be varied to some considerable extent. However, byP16. 9 of the drawings, there has been schematically shown one form ofcontrol circuit by which the cycling operation already described can beachieved. Reference may now be made to this portion of the drawings fora further understanding of the invention.

The control circuitry by which the operation hereinabove described isachieved is set forth in diagrammatic form by FIG. 9. In makingreference to FIG. 9, it may be assumed illustratively that the motor 111is maintained in an operating and running state. The brake and clutchmechanism (conventionally illustrated as contained in the gear box 114)is energized or controlled in order to supply a braking force or drivepower to the Ferguson drive schematically represented at 101.

As is well known, the Ferguson drive includes as a part thereof a camelement, such as that indicated illustratively at 212, which usually hasone flat face which is adapted through a suitable follower to controlthe opening and closing of a switch element 215.

The drive and cycling of the machine, as was above explained, iscontrolled from the loading position A and the unloading or packingposition B. FIG. 9 schematically shows this essentially as an eccentricelement extending out from the drive 101. For the drive control tofunction, it is necessary that both switches 116 at the loading positionand switch 117 at the unloading or packing position be closed. Theclosure, as above stated, can be concurrent or the switches may beclosed in sequence. The significant factor is that for the operation tobe initiated, it is necessary that both switches be closed regardless ofthe order.

Considering now the control circuitry, it can be assumed that the motor117 is energized in any desired fashion from the power supply lines 221,222. Illustratively, the motor is connected by conductors 223 and 224 tothe power line through a switch 225 included in the line 224. The switchis closed during all periods of machine operation. It may be manuallyset to an open or closed position. Other controls may be utilized wheredesired.

Assuming that the motor 111 is activated and operating, the operators atthe loading and unloading positions A and B close the cycle startbuttons 116, 117 at times when the stacking of the tiles in the troughsis completed at the loading station and operation of the packing ram 57controlled by cylinder is completed at the unloading or packing station.

Assuming for illustrative purposes that the ram plate 57 is returned toits retracted position so that the piston is drawn fully within thecylinder 59 by inflow of fluid through retractor tube 60', theretraction of the ram plate 57 will be found to close a switch element231 which connects through a timer unit 233 to permit operation. Theclosure of the cycle start switch 117, for instance, closes a circuitfrom line conductor 221 through the conductor 234, the switch 117,conductor 235, relay winding 236 and the connection through conductor237 to the other side of the power supply line 222. Energization of therelay winding 236 closes the contacts 239 thereby partially to completea circuit from the line 221 through conductor 241), switch 239 andconductor 241 leading to one terminal 242 of switch 243 controlled byrelay 244.

It can be seen that in the unenergized state, relay 244 is so set thatthe switch 243 remains open. Closure of the cycle start button 117produces no effects beyond those stated. If now, however, cycle startbutton 116 is closed, it can be seen that a circuit is completed fromthe line 221 through conductor 245, the start button 116, conductor 246through a relay coil 248 and conductor 249 to relay winding 244 andthence back to the line 222 by way of conductor 251. Current flowingthrough this connection controls a suitable control valve (not shown) tosupply fluid from a suitable source (not shown) through the inlet tube171 to the ram 167 thereby to move the piston 166 and the divider plate29 out from the trough and withdraw it. At the same time, energizationof the relay winding 244 closes the armature of the switch 243 againstthe contact point 242 which, in turn, completes a circuit from one side2 21 of the power supply line through conductor 241}, switch 239,conductor 241, switch 243 and contact 242, the armature of switch 243,conductor 257 and the relay winding 258 and conductor 259 back throughthe switch 215 and conductor 261 to the line 222.

In the rest position, this circuit is closed, because the cam 212 of theFerguson drive is so positioned that switch 215 is closed. Energizationof the relay winding 258 serves to close the switch armature 263 againstits indicated contact. This, then, permits current to flow through thetimer 233 from the line 221, the connection 264 to the switch armature263 and the conductor 264 leading back to the line 222 through the timer233. Current flowing through the timer serves to close armature 265 onthe contact point 266 so that at this time the timer is short circuitedand a current path exists from the conductor 221 through conductor 264,the relay armature 263 and its contacts, the contact point 266 and thearmature 265 through conductor 271 and switch 231 and thence conductor273 through relay winding 275 and conductor 276 back to the line 222.The closure of this last-named circuit serves to energize the clutch(not shown) and release the brake (not shown) controlling the drivethrough the Ferguson unit 101 by way of the indicated belt drive.

It can be seen, however, that from the foregoing the ram 57 must beretracted to permit the closure of this last-defined circuit. Also, itis apparent that unless the clutch is operated by energization ofwinding 275 the brake is energized. Energization of winding 275 releasesthe brake and energizes the clutch to start the Ferguson drive.

None of the circuits so far described can function unless the dividerplate is raised and unless the ram 57 is retracted. The gear is suchthat as already explained in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 inparticular, energization of the Ferguson drive permits the arbor ortransporter to rotate through With energization of the relay winding258, the switch armature 263 closes, but at the same time the arm atures281 and 282 are opened from the indicated position as shown in FIG. 9.Under these circumstances, it will be appreciated that no current canflow through the winding 285 to open a valve (not shown) to supply fluidthrough the inlet tube 60 to move the piston 1 5 within the cylinder 59to advance the ram 57 from the position shown.

On the other hand, at this time it will be observed that a circuit ispermanently maintained from the conductor 221 through conductor 287,switch armature 288 and its indicated contact points and conductor 289through the winding 290 and back to the opposite side 222 of the supplyline by way of conductor 291. This circuit closure opens a supply valve(not shown) acting to supply fluid through the connection 60' to movethe piston within the cylinder 59 to a position to retract the ram 57.This, thus, precludes movement of the ram during cycling of the machineas a whole. Likewise, because the switch 231 is in an open position,unless the ram 57 is retracted, the machine will not cycle with the ramextended.

As soon as the cycling operation is completed, and the arbor ortransporter mechanism has carried around so that one of the troughschanges from a loading to an unloading position, and the other of thetroughs changes from an unloading to a loading position, the controlcircuitry is changed over to an extent such that operation willcontinue, but the various ram elements and the like which have beenwithdrawn can now function. At this point it will be noted that noreference has as yet been made to the control of the rams to providemovement of the turntable or the compressor ram, nor yet the mechanismto control the gluing operation, nor yet the functioning of the ram tomove the cartons in a loaded state to an output conveyor, such as shownat 97. These will be discussed separately and related to the precedingoperation as is necessary.

Following the rotation of the arbor or transporter mechansim through180, as the device has been illustrated, the clutch is de-energized andthe brake operation is controlled by the interruption of current flowingthrough the relay winding 275 associated with the motor drive. Thiscondition obtains as soon as the cam rotates to change the currentstatus of flow through the relay winding 258. This change in conditionopens the armature 263 and thus breaks the circuit through the relaywinding 275. At the same time that this is occurring, the switch 281returns to its indicated position. In this state, current can now flow,for instance, from the supply line conductor 221 through conductor 295,the switch 281 (under the last assumed conditions closed) the conductor296, the relay winding 297 and conductor 298 back to the supply lineconductor 222. When this condition obtains, the winding 297 activates asuitable valve (not shown) to force fluid through the conduit 172 intothe cylinder 167 and thereby move the piston therein contained to theleft (looking at FIG. 9) and move with it the piston rod and the dividerplate 29 within one of the troughs. Further than this, it will beappreciated at this point that by reason of the breaking of the circuitthrough the switch 215 controlled by the cam 212, the current flowsthrough the winding 248 which would otherwise control the flow of fluidinto the conduit or inlet 171 has been interrupted so that the winding297 is controlling.

At the same time that the foregoing operations are occurring, it may benoted also that the ram 57 is now in a condition to function, becausethe switch 282 will have been closed concurrently with the closure ofthe switch 281 and the opening or" the switch 263. At this time, thereis a circuit set up which will be closed with energization of thecarton-loading ram button control 301 which will then close the circuitfrom conductor 221 from the supply line to conductor 287, switch arm304, conductor 302, now-closed switch 282, conductor 303, winding 285:and conductor 305 back to the other side 222 of the supply line.

With this occurring, it can be seen that the heretofore establishedcircuit through the winding 290 of the ram control is interrupted byopening of the switch 288. Consequently, energization of the loading ramcontrol button 301 to close the switch 304 and open switch 288 16permits fluid to be supplied through inlet conduit 60 into cylinder 59to move the piston therein contained downwardly (looking at FIG. 9) andthe ram plate 57 in a similar direction. This movement, as can be seen,opens the switch 231 and thereby precludes energization of the motorclutch through de-energination of the winding 275. The cartonloading-control button 301 is preferably spring biased normally to holdswitch 288 closed and switch 304 open. Consequently, as soon as theoperator presses button 301 to close switch 304 and thereby open switch288, the ram plate 57 moves forward to force articles held in one of thetroughs 17 (see FIG. 1, for instance) into cartons 50 held in a trough37. Release of the button 301 causes contact 288 immediately to closeand switch 304 to open which then permits current flow through thecircuit heretofore described through the winding 290 thereby to retractthe ram plate 57.

It will be recalled from the discussion of FIGS. 11 and 12 that thetrough 37 is rotated about the axis 31 from the position shown in FIG.11 to the position shown in FIG. 12 whereat it is possible to transfercartons 50 from the trough 37 to the turntable 65. At this time in theoperation, the rotation of the trough 37 is such that the tongue 311 onthe trough is adapted to close switch 313. At this time a circuit isthen provided from conductor 221 of the supply line through conductor314 and switch 313 and conductor 315 to energize winding 316 and toclose the circuit through conductor 317 back to the opposite side 222 ofthe supply line. This enerigization of the winding 316 is such as tochange the position of a control valve (not shown) to cause fluid to besupplied through the conduit 206 into the ram cylinder 201 thereby toretract the ram plate from the position shown in FIG. 9. This closurepermits cartons now placed upon the turntable 65 to be advanced towardthe gluing position and the position for transfer to the output troughor conveyor 97. With this operation having occurred, the operator at theunloading and packing position closes the switch 173 whereby operatingcurrent is supplied to a control winding 321 to control the supply ofoperating fluid through the supply conduit 175 into the cylinder 93 todraw the turntable 65 along the tracks 89 toward a gluing and finaltransfer position.

As the turntable 65 is drawn along the tracks 89 with the winding 321energized to feed fluid into the cylinder 93 through the inlet conduit175, the turntable glue rod 183 with which the follower 184 of limitingswitch 185 is associated closes a circuit through winding 337 that, inturn, causes the glue sprayer 181 to function. This lastnamed circuit isclosed from the line 221 via conductor 339, switch 185, relay winding337 and conductor 341 back to conductor 222 on the opposite side of theline.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, for instance, usually two spraying units areprovided, but for convenience sake only one is shown in FIG. 9. Unitssimilar to 337 may be connected in parallel and caused to functionsimilarly. The period of closure of the switch 185 is set as described'by FIG. 8.

Further movement of the turntable 65 to a position at the end of thestroke closes the limiting switch 345 thereby setting up a circuit whichmay the closed under the control of the operator closing switch 347 at adesired time to move the compression ram within the cylinder 201 so thatloaded and sealed cartons are moved for the turntable 65 when the latteris at the end of its stroke. This circuit is from the conductor 221 ofthe supply line through conductor 348, the operator-controlled switch347 and conductor 351 to winding 352 and thence to conductor 353 to theopposite conductor 222 of the supply line. Energization of the coil 352serves to control the supply of fluid into the conduit 205. to move thepiston 202 to the right (looking at FIG. 9) and with it the plate member95.

This operation pushes loaded and sealed cartons to the conveyor 97, asthe compression ram moves forward and moves the packed cartons from theturntable onto the conveyor 97. The loaded cartons all push against eachother thus to maintain the flaps in a folded state in which the gluewill harden. Final movement closes a limit switch 365 at the end of theforward stroke. The limit switch, in turn, completes a circuit from theline 221 by way of conductor 366, winding 367, conductor 368, the switch365 and conductor 369 back to the second supply conductor 222. At thistime, the energization of the winding 367 opens a suitable control valve(not shown) to supply fluid through the conduit 175 into the ramcylinder 93 thereby to reverse the direction of the turntable and tocarry it back to its starting position opposite that position at whichthe trough member 37 transfers loaded cartons to the turntable. Theoperational stage at this point is such that the winding 321 which hadbeen energized by the closure of the turntable switch 173 is deenergizedunder the control of the limiting switch 370 which is opened as thecompression ram moves forward thereby permitting the ram cylinder 93 tomove the turntable in the reverse direction.

For convenience of illustration and simplicity of showing in FIG. 9,control cylinder 157 for elevating the divider 29 and its support is notdepicted. However, it may be said that the control windings 248 and 297which control the movement of the piston 166 within the ram cylinder 167may also provide a control of the movement of the piston within thecylinder 157. The two controls essentially can be connected in parallel.The elevation of the blade 29 is then achieved in the manner already setout.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the circuitry abovedescribed functions in such a way that the unloading ram will not beactivated while the machine is in cycle. Likewise, the machine will notcycle while the ram is loading. The turntable is so set up that itcannot enter into the foregoing operation unless the compression ram 95is completely retracted within the cylinder 201. Likewise, thecompression ram cannot be activated unless the turntable is at one endor the other of its movement. Lastly, the machine will not cycle as awhole unless the divider plate 29 is withdrawn.

No details of any specific flap-folding apparatus are either describedor claimed in this application. It is generally possible to incorporateany known type of flatfolding operation into the described device, solong as the folding is achieved concurrently with the transport of theglued cartons beyond the gluing station.

Essentially, the cartons in which the articles are stacked are placed inthe trough with the flaps at one end open to receive goods transferredfrom the trough or hopper 17 by forward movement of the loading ram, asis fully described. These flaps preferably had previously been creasedso that they are ready to be folded inwardly about the folded line afterloading. The flaps at the other end of the carton are folded inwardly bythe loading operator to substantially a closed position, and (see FIG.14) in this position rest against the trough edge 37.

With the loading of the carton by the loading ram completed, theoperator normally folds the flap members inwardly as the carton is beingtransferred to the turntable 65 and as the turntable is being rotated.This action then places all flaps in a general position to receive glueor other adhesive as the turntabe is advanced along the tracks 89.Suitable flap-closure elements or bars are adapted to rest against thepartially sprayed flaps following the spraying operation. Such elementsthen tend to close the outer carton flaps over and upon the inner flaps.The final closure of the flaps for permanent adhesion is brought aboutwhen the loading ram transfers the loaded cartons from the turntable tothe final output conveyor or table 97. With such movement, the heavilyloaded cartons are pressed tightly against each other and the flaps arethus pressed tightly to a closed state.

Various modifications of the invention may of course,

18 be made without departing from the spirit and scope of what is hereshown, and, therefore, the circuit as exemplified and the components asillustrated may be regarded as illustrative. Modifications will occur tothose skilled in the art, and no unnecessary limitations are to beunderstood.

The claims are considered to be interpreted as broadly as possibleconsistent with the scope of the existing art.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles within a containercomprising a transporter means having a plurality of arcuately spacedgenerally V-shaped receiving troughs mounted for rotation about a commonaxis and adapted in one position to receive the articles and maintainthe articles in aligned and stacked relationship relative to each otherand supported at each wall of the V-shaped trough, means for shiftingthe transporter and the V-shaped trough for supported articles betweenarticlereceiving and article-unloading position, means for maintainingthe loaded V-shaped trough in an upwardly open position during shiftingbetween the loading and unloading positions, a container support meansadapted to hold an article-receiving container at the unloadingposition, and means at the unloading position for removing the pluralityof aligned and stacked articles from the V-shaped troughs as a group andfor forcing the group into an article-receiving container.

2. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles within a containercomprising a transporter means having a plurality of generally V-shapedarticle-receiving troughs mounted for rotation about a common axis andadapted in one position to receive the articles for packaging, meanscontinuously to maintain the troughs in an upwardly open position withthe supported articles in aligned and stacked relationship relative toeach other, means for shifting the transporter means and supportedarticles in the V-shaped trough about the said common axis from thearticle-receiving position to an article-unloading position andsimultaneously shift another V-shaped trough to an articlereceivingposition while retaining substantially the same upright position of theV-shaped trough, a container support means adapted to locate anarticle-receiving container at the unloading position, ram means at theunloading position for removing a plurality of aligned articles from theV-shaped trough at the unloading position as a group and forcing thegroup into the article-receiving container.

3. Apparatus for packaging articles within a receiving containercomprising transporter means having a plurality of spaced V-shapedarticle supports spaced from each other by equal angular distances, acommon rotational axis and drive shaft means for moving the transportermeans between limiting positions whereat the transporter means isadapted to receive articles in aligned arrangement for packaging andwhereat such received articles in like aligned relationship are adaptedto be unloaded to a receiving container, means for maintaining theloaded article supports in an upwardly open position during shiftingbetween the receiving and unloading positions, means at the unloadingposition of the transporter means for removing the articles as a grouptherefrom along a path of movement transverse to that at which thearticles are transported to the unloading position, and means at theunloading position for supporting the receiving container in alignedrelationship to the path of movement of the articles, saidarticle-removing means being adapted to force the articles as a groupinto the receiving container.

4. An article-packaging device comprising a rotary transporter means, aplurality of substantially V-shaped receiving troughs supported by saidrotary transporter means, means to support the V-shaped troughs at equalradial distances from the rotational axis of the rotary means and atequal arcuate separations, means for rotating the transporter means instep fashion with each rotational step being for an arcuate distancecorresponding to a whole multiple of the arcuate separation distancebetween the article-receiving troughs, means to maintain the V-shapedtrough in like relative position at all times with the open portion ofthe V upward and the V apex downward thereby to provide holding surfacesangularly spaced from a normal through the V apex which will holdarticles, means located at an arcuate separation from the loadingposition also equal to the arcuate separation between troughs multipliedby a selected whole number for laterally displacing articles from thepath of movement of the transporter to a carton loading position, meansfor supporting an article-receiving carton at the unloading position inalignment with the path of movement of unloading of the articles so thatarticles are forced from the transporter means into the cartons, andmeans for removing the loaded cartons following loading.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 4 comprising, in addition, means tocontrol the movement of the transporter means in step fashion betweenthe article-loading and unloading positions and means to interlock thetime of movement whereby movement steps are restricted to periodsfollowing discharge of articles at the discharge point and to selectionof article loading at the loading point.

6. An article-packaging device comprising a rotary transporter meanshaving a support axis about which the rotation is adapted to occur, aplurality of substantially V-shaped receiving troughs supported by saidrotary transporter means, means to position the V-shaped troughs atequal radial distances from the rotational axis of the rotary means andat equal arcuate separations, means for rotating the transporter meansin step fashion with each rotational step being for an an arcuatedistance corresponding to a whole multiple of the arcuate separationdistance between the article-receiving troughs, means for maintainingthe V-shaped troughs in an upright articleholding position duringmovement between all stepped positions so that supported articles areprecluded from falling out of the troughs, means located at an arcuateseparation from the loading position also equal to the arcuateseparation between troughs multiplied by a selected whole number forlaterally displaced articles from the path of movement of thetransporter to a carton-loading position, means for supporting anarticle-receiving carton at the unloading position in alignment with thepath of movement of unloading of the articles so that articles areforced from the transporter means into the cartons, and means forremoving the loaded cartons following loading.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 6 comprising, in addition, means tocontrol the movement of the transporter means in step fashion betweenthe article-loading and unloading positions and means to interlock thetime of movement whereby movement steps are restricted to periodsfollowing discharge of articles at the discharge point and to selectionof article loading at the loading point.

8. Article handling and packaging apparatus comprising a rotaryarticle-transporter frame means, a V-shaped article-receiving trough ateach opposite end of the frame and each located at an equal radialdistance from the axis of rotation of the transporter means to supportarticles in aligned and stacked relationship, means for moving thetransporter frame selectively in 180 stepped movements with the troughsalternately stopping at loading and unloading positions, means at theloading position for guiding and aligning a plurality of articles instacked relationship symmetrically positioned relative to each other inthe troughs, means for holding the V-shaped troughs in an uprightposition at all times so that the walls of the V-shaped troughs aremainained at approximately 45 to a support plane, means at the unloadingstation for laterally displacing the plurality of articles from theV-shaped troughs, and means aligned with the displacing means forsupporting an article-receiving container to receive the articles asdisplaced.

9. Article-handling and packaging apparatus comprising a rotaryarticle-transporter means, a pair of V-shaped troughs to supportarticles in aligned and stacked relationship, the troughs being spacedat equal radial distances from the axis of rotation of the transportermeans and at arcuate spacings of in the rotational path, means at theloading position for guiding and aligning a plurality of articles withinthe troughs in stacked relationship symmetrically positioned relative toeach other, means to rotate the transporter means to move the saidtroughs between the loading position and a selected unloading positionarcuately spaced by 180 from the loading position, means to hold theV-shaped troughs at the loading, unloading and all intermediatepositions therebetween with each side of the V-shaped opening forming asubstantially equal angle relative to a normal to a support plane, meansat the unloading station for laterally displacing the plurality ofarticles from the V-shaped troughs, and means aligned with thedisplacing means for supporting an article-receiving container toreceive the articles as displaced.

ll). Article-handling and packaging apparatus comprising a rotaryarticle-transporter means, a plurality of V-shaped troughs to supportarticles in aligned and stacked relationship, the troughs being spacedto equal radial distances from the axis of rotation of the transportermeans and being spaced at equal arcuate distances in the rotationalpath, means to position the troughs in at each of the loading andunloading locations with the trough walls located at an angle ofapproximately 45 relative to a support plane, means at the loadingposition for guiding and aligning a plurality of articles within thetroughs in stacked relationship symmetrically positioned relative toeach other, means to rotate the transporter means to move the saidtroughs in step fashion between the loading position and a selectedunloading position arcuately spaced from the loading position by theangle of separation of the troughs multiplied by a whole number, meansfor maintaining the angle of the trough walls to the support planesubstantially constant during rotation of the transporter means, meansat the unloading station for laterally displacing the plurality ofarticles from the V-shaped troughs, and means aligned with thedisplacing means for supporting an article-receiving container toreceive the articles as displaced.

11. Article-handling and packaging apparatus comprising a rotatablearticle-transporter means, a plurality of V-shaped troughs adapted tosupport articles in aligned and stacked relationship, the troughs beingspaced at equal radial distances from the axis of rotation of thetransporter rnean's and spaced at equal arcuate distances in therotational path, means for selectively rotating the transporter means tomove the troughs between a loading station and an unloading station, aretractable blade means at the loading position within the V-shapedtrough for guiding and establishing the alignment of a plurality ofarticles in stacked relationship symmetrically positioned relative toeach other, means to withdraw the aligning blade from the V-shapedtrough, means for simultaneously initiating a movement of the troughs instep fashion with the load trough moving from the loading positiontoward a selected unloading position arcuately spaced from the loadingposition by an angular separation corresponding to that of the V-shapedtroughs and the trough previously unloaded moving from the unloadedposition toward the loading position, means to hold the V-shaped troughsin all positions with each side of the V-shape-d opening formingsubstantially an equal angle relative to a support plane for theapparatus during loading, unloading and transporting between the loadingand unloading positions, means to reposition the blade following atrough rotation from an unloading to a loading position to repeat theoperation, means at the unloading station for laterally displacing theplurality of stacked and aligned articles from the V-shaped trough, andmeans aligned with the displacing means for supporting anarticle-receiving container to receive the articles as displaced.

12. Article-handling and packaging apparatus comprising a rotatablearticle-transporter means adapted to be rotated upon a supported axis tomove between a loading position and an unloading position, a pluralityof V-shaped troughs to support articles in aligned and stackedrelationship, the troughs being spaced at equal radial distances fromthe axis of rotation of the transporter means and at equal arcuateseparations in the rotational path, means at the loading position forsupporting a carton liner for wrapping articles, a retractable blademeans adapted to be positioned within the V-shaped trough at the loadingposition for guiding and aligning a plurality of articles in stackedrelationship symmetrically positioned relative to each other and to theblade and liner at edge positions, indexing means for retracting theblade and initiating a drive operation to rotate the transporter meansto move the said V-shaped trough in step fashion between the load. ingposition and a selected unloading position arcuately spaced from theloading position by the angle of separation of the troughs multiplied bya whole number, means to support the V-shaped troughs at the loadingposition with each side of the V-shaped opening forming a substantiallyequal angle relative to a normal to a support plane, means controlledfrom the driving means for the transporter for maintaining the relativetrough position during the rotation thereof in such fashion that thetrough sides are retained at all times without substantial angularpositional shift, means at the unloading station for laterallydisplacing the plurality of articles from the V-shaped troughs, andmeans aligned with the displacing means for supporting anarticle-receiving container to receive the articles as displaced.

13. The apparatus claimed in claim 12 comprising, in addition, means totransfer the loaded containers from the load-receiving position to adischarge position.

14. The apparatus claimed in claim 13 wherein the means to receive thetransferred loaded containers is a turntable, and means to rotate theturntable to discharge the stacked containers to a distributingconveyor.

15. The apparatus claimed in claim 14 comprising, in addition, meansadjacent to the discharge path for the loaded containers for closing andsealing the containers.

16. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles within a containeras claimed in claim 2 comprising, in addition, means to interlock thetransporter and ram means to prevent operation of the ram means duringoperating periods of the transporter means and to prevent operation ofthe transporter means during operative periods of the ram means, i

17. Article handling and packaging apparatus comprising a rotary articletransporter means, a drive shaft for selectively rotating the saidtransporter means, a pair of V-shaped troughs to support articles inaligned stacked relationship, the troughs being spaced on thetransporter means at angles of and each at substantially equal distancesfrom the drive means, means at a loading position for guiding andaligning a plurality of articles within one of the troughs in stackedrelationship symmetrically positioned relative to each other, meansprovided by the support means for rotating the transporter means to movethe said troughs between the loading and unloading positions, whichpositions are spaced 180 from each other, means to maintain the V-shapedtroughs at all of the loading, unloading and intermediate positions withthe V-shaped opening extending upwardly and each side of the V-shapedtroughs forming a substantially equal angle relative to a line extendingnormal to the apparatus support plane, means at the unloading stationfor laterally displacing the plurality of loaded articles from theV-shaped troughs, means aligned with the displacing means for supportingarticle-receiving means to receive the articles as displaced, aninterlocking means to prevent a rotation of the transporter means duringperiods within which articles are being removed from the V-shapedtroughs at the unloading position and during which articles are beingloaded into the V-shaped troughs at the loading position.

18. The apparatus claimed in claim 17 comprising an additional means atsubstantially the apex of each V-shaped trough for supporting the troughon the transporter means, and means connecting each of the troughsupport means at the trough apex with the rotary drive means to rotatethe trough support means through an angle corresponding to that at whichthe transporter means is rotating so that the upright position of theV-shaped troughs is maintained and the troughs essentially orbit thetransporter drive means while moving in each direction between theloading and unloading positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,526,724 2/1925 Thompson 198137X 1,870,533 8/1932 Scott et al. 53252 X 2,631,767 3/1953 Banks 53-881 X2,698,692 1/1955 Jones et al 2146 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner. R, J, ALVEY, P. H. POHL, Assistant Examiners,

1. APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING A PLURALITY OF ARTILES WITHIN A CONTAINER COMPRISING A TRANSPORTER MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF ARCUATELY SPACED GENERALLY V-SHAPED RECEIVING TROUGHS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A COMMON AXIS AND ADAPTED IN ONE POSITION TO RECEIVE THE ARTICLE AND MAINTAIN THE ARTICLES IN ALIGNED AND STACK RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTED AT EACH WALL OF THE V-SHAPED TROUGH, MEANS FOR SHIFTING THE TRANSPORTER AND THE V-SHAPED TROUGH FOR SUPPORTED ARTICLES BETWEEN ARTICLE RECEIVING AND ARTICLE-UNLOADING POSITION, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE LOADED V-SHAPED TROUGH IN AN UPWARDLY OPEN 